What Happened
Pullumalai in Batticaloa was a region of natural beauty where Tamils lived for hundreds of years. Today it lies barren - the destroyed school, temple and church remain as memorials. From 1983-1990, the SLA with Sinhalese mobs attacked over five times. In July 1983, cows were killed and wealth destroyed. In December 1984, during Thiruvemba pooja at Pillayar Temple, SLA shot 9 dead and burnt 300 houses. On 4th January 1985, they killed the only Engineer with 7 others. On 10th January, they shot the temple priest with 9 others. On 10th November 1986, 103 Tamils were cut and killed. In 1987, 14 fishermen at a pond were shot. On 9th July 1990, babies were ripped open, over 40 families shot, girls raped, stabbed and ripped open. Over 400 families disappeared. Survivor account: "They took turns to rape my sister-in-law in front of my brother. They cut open his wife's stomach, took out the baby and trampled it with their legs."
Perpetrators
Sri Lankan Army
Sources & References
- NESOHR - Lest We Forget Volume I